What is an Aural Haematoma and should it be treated?

wAn aural haematoma is an obvious swelling of the pinna (the ear flap) which is filled with blood or serum (blood without the red cells).

wThis can be small or may affect the whole ear. It is usually very uncomfortable to your pet and they will shake their head or hang their head to the side.

Aural Haematomas in Cats

 

wAural haematomas are uncommon in cats. The cause is usually some form of trauma to the ear which causes tiny blood vessels to burst and a separation of the attachment of the skin to the underlying cartilage that give the ear its shape.This forms a pocket that can fill with blood.

wHead shaking because of an ear infection is possible, but since cats' ears are fairly rigid and do not flap around when the head is shaken, this is unlikely.

wMore common would be a blow to the head (e.g. during a car accident) or from fighting. In the latter case the haematoma may become infected and become an abscess.

Aural Haematomas in Dogs

 

wAural haematomas are common in dogs - especially those with longer flapping ears. The most common cause is shaking their head due to ear mites or a foreign body in the ear, which causes the blood vessels in the ear flap or pinna to burst.

What is the treatment for an aural haematoma?

wIf the swelling is not infected, drainage of the haematoma can help, but frequently the swelling will refill rapidly as the lining to the space still bleeds as it is the bodies' natural response to fill up any dead space.

wThey will resolve if left untreated, but there is a tendency towards scarring resulting in a “cauliflower ear” as rugby players can get!

wTreatment with anti-inflammatory drugs will reduce the fluid production and scarring, making it resolve faster and with much better cosmetic results. We tend to use this method first and your pet usually does not need sedating to inject the steroid into their ear flap.

wAnother viable method is surgery to drain the cavity and stitch it closed if the initial treatment is unsuccessful. We tend to do this with larger breed dogs. We use an assortment of stitches to keep the ear pinna flat. Do not be alarmed if your dog goes home with buttons closing the ear flap as they work very well!

wIf the swelling is infected and becomes an abscess, drainage and antibiotics will be necessary. We tend to treat an infected inner ear with drops and antibiotics too.

wIt is obviously also vital to treat the cause of the head shaking in the first place. If it is caused by ear mites, then eardrops or flea drops such as Advantage or Stronghold that are applied to the back of your pet's neck are used. They kill not only fleas but also ear mites.

wAlso expect your pet to go home with a large lampshade or elizabethan collar if they have had surgery.

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